ENHANCING THE PHOTOCATALYTIC EFFECT OF TIO2 NANOPARTICLES USING SILANES

Abstract

The use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a promising method to overcome the issues of pollution and poorly maintained building facades with its added benefit of being environmentally sustainable. This paper examined for the first time the accelerated effect on MB photodegradation by photocatalytic TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles when 3-(Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPS) and ammonia (NH3) were added as a molecular silane booster. In this study, we have discovered that the use of MPS and NH3 as a silane booster is able accelerate photodegradation reaction for both TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles under UV irradiation by up to 2 times. It is also found that both 2D and 3D experiments is able to show the acceleration effect of silane booster on MB degradation by nanoparticles. However, it is found that adding extremely high concentrations of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles may cause a deceleration effect on MB degradation under UV irradiation due to agglomeration of nanoparticles. From the control experiments, we have learnt that the silane booster on its own is photocatalytic, but is not photocatalytic when either MPS or NH3 is absent. We also discovered that photocatalysis using the silane booster alone is more efficient than using a nanoparticle solution with either MPS or NH3. Limitations to this study are identified with recommendations given for future research to improve on regarding this topic.